Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas

It was on November 22, 1963 that Dealey Plaza became immortalized in history when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated here while riding in a presidential motorcade through downtown Dallas, Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald fired from the 6th floor of the nearby Texas School Book Depository. An 'X' on the street still marks the location of the incident.

Standing on the Grassy Knoll, it's a bit surreal to stand in places so defined by a single moment in history. With a nearby monument and a museum in the former Texas School Book Depository providing more context, you can also still find conspiracy theorists at Dealey Plaza trying to enlighten the public on what really happened.

This is the view looking west on Dealey Plaza. The 'X' marking the spot where the president was hit is just behind the black car in this image. The motorcade was heading towards the overpass. Oswald fired from above (the top right). Straight ahead is the Grassy Knoll.

The former Texas School Book Depository is on the far left.

Oatman, Arizona | Route 66

As a dusty former mining town along old Route 66, you might wonder what would attract a crowd to a place like Oatman, Arizona? The village experienced a gold rush in 1915, and found short-lived success as a stop on Route 66, but in 1953 Oatman was completely bypassed by the new interstate system. By the 1960s Oatman, Arizona was a ghost town.

So what saved Oatman? In a word - tourism.

The old wooden storefronts, vintage signs, and rocky desert surroundings are like something straight out of a western. To add to that motif, Oatman is famously populated by wild burros that roam the streets. Clark Gable and Carol Lombard also stayed at the Oatman Hotel as a stop on their honeymoon in 1939 following their wedding in Kingman. In short, Oatman has become famous for the exact brand of novelty that makes Route 66 so much fun to explore.
  

Downtown Helena, Montana

Complete with beautifully restored brick buildings, historic streets, and faded ghost signs, the downtown of Montana's capital city has character in spades. Owing to its gold mining wealth in the late 1800s, the historic Last Chance Gulch in downtown Helena, Montana is rich in history and distinct architecture. Also not to be missed are the nearby St. Helena Cathedral, Reeder's Alley, and the Montana State Capitol.